Card Payment Surcharges Banned in Australia from 2026

[esseeeayeenn]

Yes, we all knew it but nobody said it out loud.

It is understood that some businesses are doing it hard but some of them are playing a political game.

It is forecast that there will be tough economic times ahead. Now is the time to plan accordingly. Including ceasing business if you're currently operating on revolving credit cards.

Pretty sure we said it out loud.

Coffee prices at some cafes rise by 10pc after RBA card surcharge ban

A ban on card surcharges has led some cafe owners to lift coffee prices. It's an unintended consequence of the Reserve Bank's card surcharge ban, which was intended to lower prices for consumers.

www.abc.net.au

So cafés are increasing prices by 4 times the maximum possible cost impact of the change.
This is why I never fall for the small business sob stories.
Spare me.

 

[Happy Dude]

My occasional chinese lunch joint has upped the price for takeaways from $12 to $13. No surcharge before the ban.

 

[transpactraveller]

Who can I report this to?

Renaming the card surcharge to "card processing fee" surely has to be 100% illegal.

 

[oz_mark]

Who can I report this to?

Renaming the card surcharge to "card processing fee" surely has to be 100% illegal.

ACCC is you think its misleading conduct.
Or the cards scheme (https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/pricing/card-surcharges)

You can also raise card payment surcharge concerns with the relevant card network, or with the business payment service provider if you know who that is. For surcharges for Visa payments, you can report the issue. You can contact Mastercard and American Express to report about surcharges using their cards. If using eftpos, contact the bank that issued your card.

 

[transpactraveller]

I think Visa needs to update their page to remove Australia from the list of countries where surcharging is permitted.



It will now just be NZ and a few US states where credit card surcharges are allowed.

NZ will be the only place in the world where debit card surcharges are permitted.

 

[ellen10]

Yesterday we went to a local favourite cafe.
They now charge a service fee, which amounted to about 16cents on the purchase,
I only noticed when taping.

As I was leaving, I did notice another sign that said 5% discount for cash.
I’ll use cash next time

 

[Mr_Orange]

They now charge a service fee

That sounds like a card surcharge by another name, which is still illegal.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Yesterday we went to a local favourite cafe.
They now charge a service fee, which amounted to about 16cents on the purchase,
I only noticed when taping.

As I was leaving, I did notice another sign that said 5% discount for cash.
I’ll use cash next time

I'd just be telling them I won't be back while they are adding service fees